Effects Of Music Therapy Interventions Research Articles

A Comparison of the Effects of Music Therapy Interventions on Depression, Anxiety, Anger, and Stress on Alcohol-Dependent Clients: A Pilot Study

A Comparison of the Effects of Music Therapy Interventions on Depression, Anxiety, Anger, and Stress on Alcohol-Dependent Clients: A Pilot Study

Music Therapy Intervention with Autistic Children

The paper presents a qualitative empirical research project, research design and research methods used in the preparation of a dissertation which deals with music therapy interventions in children with autism. The reason for examining this issue is a considerable lack of research activity in this area, and thus also a lack of relevant results on which clinical practice could rely. The results of future investigations should bring answers to the question of how children with autism receive and experience music therapy intervention and also what the effect of music therapy intervention in the social interaction of children is; research will be directed to a deeper understanding of this influence and its characteristics using the multiple case study design.

Music Therapy- Based Mechanisms for Coping with Stress and Pain

This article describes three research investigations that focus on the effects of music therapy interventions with different forms of stress and pain. The !rst study involves music listening strategies for women in labor and delivery; the second tests the impact of eight music listening strategies on depression, anxiety, self-esteem and mood in clinically depressed older adults; the third utilizes a more active music therapy intervention, including music listening, improvisation/ active music-making, and songwriting, for women who have metastatic breast cancer. The results of these studies lend support to the use of easily-accessible music strategies in a variety of clinical settings. Implications for applying music therapy-based coping techniques for every day stress and chronic conditions are presented.

The Effectiveness of a Short-Term Group Music Therapy Intervention for Parents Who Have a Child with a Disability

The positive relationship between parent-child interactions and optimal child development is well established. Families of children with disabilities may face unique challenges in establishing positive parent-child relationships; yet, there are few studies examining the effectiveness of music therapy interventions to address these issues. In particular, these studies have been limited by small sample size and the use of measures of limited reliability and validity. This study examined the effectiveness of a short-term group music therapy intervention for parents of children with disabilities and explored factors associated with better outcomes for participating families. Participants were 201 mother-child dyads, where the child had a disability. Pre- and post-intervention parental questionnaires and clinician observation measures were completed to examine outcomes of parental wellbeing, parenting behaviors, and child development. Descriptive data, t-tests for repeated measures and a predictive model tested via logistic regression are presented. Significant improvements pre to post intervention were found for parent mental health, child communication and social skills, parenting sensitivity, parental engagement with child and acceptance of child, child responsiveness to parent, and child interest and participation in program activities. There was also evidence for high parental satisfaction and that the program brought social benefits to families. Reliable change on six or more indicators of parent or child functioning was predicted by attendance and parent education. This study provides positive evidence for the effectiveness of group music therapy in promoting improved parental mental health, positive parenting and key child developmental areas.

Lim, H. A. (2012). Developmental speech-language training through music for children with autism spectrum disorders. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 197 pages. ISBN 978-1-84905-849-0. $36.95

Lim, H. A. (2012). Developmental speech-language training through music for children with autism spectrum disorders. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. 197 pages. ISBN 978-1-84905849-0. $36.95.Hayoung Lim presents a strong theoretical foundation for supporting the development of speech and skills in children with autism spectrum disorders through music therapy interventions. Prior to her appointment as the director of graduate studies in music therapy at Sam Houston State University, Lim worked in children's health and education management in Miami. She primarily served preschool age children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), focusing on supporting the development of speech and language.The book is divided into two sections. Part 1 is a review of literature that provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation for work with children on the spectrum. Part 2 describes a model of clinical practice for using music interventions to support the development of speech and skills for children with ASD. The appendices include examples of songs that Lim composed for use in music therapy sessions, visual support, and a summary of an experimental research study that examined the effectiveness of music therapy interventions to support the development of speech and skills.Part 1 begins with a description of the characteristics of speech and in children with autism spectrum disorders. Delays in speech and skills are one of the primary diagnostic characteristics. Lim provides an overview of basic theories of development and typical patterns of delay that may be experienced by children with ASD. Research literature highlights deficits in semantic language, pragmatic language, and prosody (p. 36). While skills are variable, but about33-50% of children with autism do not develop enough natural speech to meet their daily communication needs (p. 34). Research literature is shared to highlight the underlying differences in brain structures related to differences in development. Characteristic patterns of speech and in children with ASD include echolalia and differences in perception of language. Lim provides a comprehensive review of the work of researchers such as Prizant to help music therapists understand the important foundations of speech and development.The next section provides an overview of music perception and its relationship to language. The commonalities of neuroanatomical structures that respond to music and speech are presented to demonstrate how music provides a good support for the development of speech and language. Theories of pattern perception provide a link between research literature in development and music therapy practice. Lim states, it is worthwhile to examine how the perception and production of musical elements relates to the perception and production of the corresponding patterns in language (p. 65). For example, rhythm is an important component of both music and language. The intentional use of rhythmic patterns can increase the child's attention and promote imitation.Part 2 outlines developmental speech and training through music (DSLM) protocols for preschool age children with ASD. …

Effects of Music Therapy on Pain and Anxiety in Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Biopsy and Aspiration

Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration are commonly used for diagnosing, treating, and following up after treatment for blood disorders and solid tumors. For adults, the infiltration of local anesthesia at the biopsy site has been used as the principal form of analgesia for bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. Pain relief during these procedures is often incomplete, especially during aspiration of the bone marrow, and pain is likely to contribute to patient anxiety. Researchers at the Tabriz Hematology and Oncology Center in Iran conducted a study to quantify and evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy interventions on pain and anxiety control for 100 patients undergoing bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. Participants in the study were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group listened to music during the procedure, and the other did not. Patients completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory both before and after the procedure and reported pain severity by using a visual analog scale. Results showed that participants who listened to music had lower state anxiety and pain levels than those who did not listen to music.

The Effect of Expressive and Instrumental Touch on The Behavior States of Older Adults with Late-Stage Dementia of The Alzheimer's Type and on Music Therapist's Perceived Rapport

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of music therapy interventions utilizing two types of touch, expressive touch and instrumental touch, on the behavior states of older adults who have late-stage dementia of the Alzheimer's type. A secondary purpose of this study was to examine the perceived effectiveness of the music therapist when expressive and instrumental touch was employed during music therapy sessions. A within-subject design was used with 9 participants receiving 3 sessions in each of the experimental conditions: no touch, expressive touch, and instrumental touch. Results of a one-way ANOVA revealed that expressive touch was significantly more effective during the initial session in eliciting and maintaining alert behavior states than the instrumental and control conditions; however, there were no significant differences between the experimental and control conditions during the first and second session repetitions. Rapport ratings revealed that the therapist's client rapport was perceived to be significantly higher during both the expressive touch and instrumental touch conditions than during the control condition. These findings have important implications for music therapy practice and the effective use of nonverbal communication.

Effects of Developmental Music Groups for Parents and Premature or Typical Infants Under Two Years on Parental Responsiveness and Infant Social Development

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of music therapy intervention on premature infants' and full term infants' developmental responses and parents' responsiveness. Subjects (n=56) were parent-infant dyads who attended developmental music groups or a control condition assessing responsiveness during toy play. All subjects were matched according to developmental age and were also matched by group for socioeconomic status and for maternal depression. Types of infant play and parent responsiveness were measured using observation of a standardized toy play for parent-infant dyads. Observations were coded with the number of seconds spent in each behavior using the SCRIBE observation program. Parents completed a questionnaire on the perception of their infant's general development, interpretations of their child's needs, the purpose of using music with their child, and their child's response to music. The infants attending the developmental music groups with their parents demonstrated significantly more social toy play (p < .05) during the standardized parent-infant toy play than infants who did not attend the music groups. While not significant, graphic analysis of parent responsiveness showed parents who attended the developmental music groups engaged in more positive and less negative play behaviors with their infants than parents who did not attend the music groups. This study demonstrates the first findings of positive effects of developmental music groups on social behaviors for both premature and full term infants under 2 years old.

The Effect of Lyric Analysis on Treatment Eagerness and Working Alliance in Consumers Who Are in Detoxification: A Randomized Clinical Effectiveness Study

ABSTRACT: Substance abuse and dependency continues to be a solemn problem in the United States and around the world. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a single music therapy session on clients who are in detoxification using psychometric instruments measuring readiness to change and working alliance during a randomized and controlled clinical trial. Participants took part in a scripted and manualized intervention facilitated by a Board-Certified Music Therapist. The experimental group (n = 29) participated in a group lyric analysis intervention focusing on relapse prevention while the control group (n=37) participated in a group verbal therapy session also focusing on relapse prevention. There was a significant between group difference in measures of therapist perceived working alliance (p Substance abuse continues to constitute a major social concern in the United States and worldwide. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It is considered the primary information source on the use of alcohol and drugs in the United States for people aged 12 and older (Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). In 2005, an estimated 19.7 million Americans aged 12 and older were considered current illicit drug users. This estimate constituted 8.1 percent of the population in this age range. Approximately 2.4 million used cocaine and 6.4 million used prescription-type drugs in a nonmedical manner in the last month. More than half (51.8 percent) of Americans in this age bracket reported being current drinkers of alcohol (Department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Recent research has evaluated the effects of music therapy on clients who are in substance abuse rehabilitation. Single sessions of music therapy were found to facilitate positive emotions in participants (Baker, Gleadhill, & Dingle, 2007). In a related study, music therapy treatment resulted in high levels of motivation and enjoyment (Dingle, Gleadhill, & Baker, 2008). Silverman (2003) found no differences between intervention types but positive perceptions of therapeutic benefit and enjoyment with women in long-term chemical dependence treatment. Jones (2005) studied the effects of lyric analysis and songwriting interventions on consumers who were in treatment for substance abuse. Results indicated positive emotional mood changes but no differences between interventions. Cevasco, Kennedy, and Generally (2005) compared the effects of music therapy interventions on depression, stress, anxiety, and anger. Similar to the results of Jones (2005) and Silverman (2003), positive changes were noted but no differences were found between interventions. To date, however, no music therapy studies concerning substance abuse have employed the use of a control group while few have used established psychometric instruments. Motivation for alcoholism and drug change has been traditionally judged in two ways: a person is unmotivated and in denial or is motivated to change (Clancy, 1964; DiCicco, Unterberger, & Mack, 1978). Motivation for change in drug/ drinking use is an important variable (Miller, 1985; Miller, Benefield, & Tonigan, 1993) and has been construed as a fluctuation between pros and cons of a behavior (Janis & Mann, 1 977). Past research has found that the therapist's style, as well as environmental characteristics, influence the consumer's motivation for change. Although it is theorized that music therapy can enhance treatment motivation with other populations, presently, no studies have investigated the effect of music therapy on motivation to change in persons who are chemically dependent. …

A Pilot Study: The Effects of Music Therapy Interventions on Middle School Students' ESL Skills

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of music therapy techniques on the story retelling and speaking skills of English as a Second Language (ESL) middle school students. Thirty-four middle school students of Hispanic heritage, ages 10-12, in high and low-functioning groups participated in the study for 12 weeks. Pretest to posttest data yielded significant differences on the story retelling skills between the experimental and control groups. Chi Square comparisons on English speaking skills also yielded significant results over 3 months of music therapy intervention. A variety of music therapy techniques were used including music and movement, active music listening, group chanting and singing, musical games, rhythmic training, music and sign language, and lyric analysis and rewrite activities as supplemental activities to the ESL goals and objectives. Comparisons of individual subjects' scores indicated that all of the students in the experimental groups scored higher than the control groups on story retelling skills (with the exception of 1 pair of identical scores), regardless of high and low functioning placement. Monthly comparisons of the high and low functioning experimental groups indicated significant improvements in English speaking skills as well.

The Effects of Music Therapy Intervention on Agitation Behaviors of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of live music therapy on agitation behavior of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients during and after music therapy intervention. A second purpose was to determine if there was a difference in the effect of music therapy between those patients who had a musical background and those who did not. A third purpose was to examine if there was a difference between music therapists' and caregivers' post-music therapy agitation scores. Agitation behavior in this study was defined as overt behavior that indicates restlessness, hyperactivity, or subjective distress. The dependent measures included: (a) scores on the Agitation Behavior Scale, and (b) number of dosages of PRN medication. Subjects for this study were 20 residents, 17 females and 3 males, from four different facilities in the Northwest. Their age range was 70 to 96(M = 82, SD = 6.57). The criteria for selection were: (a) A primary diagnosis of dementia with strong medical and behavioral indications that a post mortem examination would indicate the patients' presenting problems were the result of Alzheimer's disease, (b) the presence of agitation, (c) sufficient verbal ability to answer simple social and activity questions, and (c) the written consent of the patient's guardian or representative. Subjects, grouped by three or four, participated twice a week for 30 minutes for a total of five music therapy sessions. Caregivers having close contact with patients rated subjects' agitation behavior based on their observation of the subjects' behavior during the morning just prior to the beginning of music therapy (baseline). Music therapy sessions were videotaped for post-hoc agitation behavior analysis during music therapy, and for reliability purposes. Once music therapy sessions were over, subjects' behavior was observed for the next 20 minutes by a music therapist and a caregiver. In addition, subjects' charts were reviewed weekly to note the number of dosages of PRN medication administered each day of the week. The results of a two-factor analysis of variance with repeated measures show no effects with respect to music background (F1 = 1.79, p = .20), but identify significant main effects of agitation behavior (F3 = 16.33, p = .0001). Subsequent Fisher PLSD tests indicate that subjects appeared significantly more agitated before music therapy (M = 11.46) than during either of the two music therapy observations (M = 7.68 & M = 7.52, respectively) and after music therapy sessions (M = 8.37). No two-way interaction between music background and agitation behavior (F3 = 1.34, p = .28) was noted. Results of an independent t test between music therapists and caregivers post-music therapy agitation scores indicate no significant differences between scores [t(78) = .67, p = .50]. Implications for music therapy practice are discussed.